Spring structure.



W. B. SMITH.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.1912.

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1 1 50,7 1 2. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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WATSON B. SMITH, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

SPRING- STRUCTURE.

Specification of Iietters Patent.

Patented Augii, 1915.

Applicationvfiled July 5, 1912. Serial No. 707,828.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVA'lSON R. Surrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Structures, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to spring structures.

The main object of the invention is to provide a spring structure having means whereby when the structure is upholstered there may be formed at the front upper edge thereof a roll with a minimum amount of hair and upholstering material which will produce not only a luxurious appearing cushion but provide a soft, pliable upper front edge in contradistinction to the usual stiff edge and common square facing effect.

Another object resides in the provision of a durable, efficient. economical and pliable spring structure for car, automobile or other seats, having at its front edge a plurality of projecting yieldable elements which cooperate to provide for the formation of a pliable roll at the upper front edge of the structure.

A still further object is to provide a spring structure embodying upper and lower frames with the front portion of the upper frame cut away to provide for considerable resiliency at the front of the structure in contradistingction to the usual stiff upper edge of spring structures so that when the structure is upholstered it will give ease and comfort to the rider.

With the above and other objects in view the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts hereinaf ter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details without departing from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In. the drawings. Figure 1 is a top plan view." Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings there is shown a lower or base frame 11 to which may be connected in any suitable manner suitable spring supporting wires 12. To these supporting wires and to the lower frame the springs A are connected, preferably by means of flat clips 13 which are so arranged as; to prevent the coils of the springs from being completely forced through the lower convolutions of the springs upon compression thereof.

The springs may be of suitable gage wire to provide for the formation of a pliable structure and are arranged preferably in rows with the rows gradually increasing in height from rear to front and with the front row of springs preferably composed of superimposed springs 11 and 15, the upper springs 1 being preferably cone shaped and shorter than the lower springs 15, while the latter are preferably of the double cone variety.

Arranged across the front of the structure is a bar or rod 16 which may have comparatively short, rearwardly directed end portions 17 to extend along the sides of the front corner springs 15 and which, if employed, are preferably connected thereto by means of suitable clips 18 and have their free ends preferably directed downwardly. The rod or bar 16 is preferably connected to the upper convolutions of the front lower springs 15 by means of clips 19 whose opposite ends are connected to the inner sides of the upper convolutions of the springs 15.

The upper frame of the structure preferably is not continuous as is the lower frame but has a back portion 20 and side portions 21 which terminate in front portions 2'2, the latter terminating short of each other with their free extremities directed downwardly, and leaving the front portion of the upper frame open for a purpose presently eX plained.

By virtue of the rows of springs gradually increasing in height from rear to front of the structure and by reason of the border springs adjacent the upper frame, excepting those at the opening in the front of the upper frame, being connected thereto by means of suitable clips 23 and 2 1, the upper frame is arranged preferably upon an in cline. The clips 24 are formed preferably like the flat clips 18 and on the sides of the structure connect with the side portions 21 of the upper frame, there being similar clips 24" connectingopposite sides of the convolutions of the inner springs and also the springs arranged adjacent the opening at the front of the upper frame. Riveteol or otherwise secured to these flat clips, 24

and 24 are yieldable bands 25 whose outer ends project beyond the upper front edge of the structure and are coiled or otherwise turned backwardly to form spring elements 26 with the forward extremities of the bands riveted or otherwise secured to the aforesaid clips 18 to which clips and by the same rivets or securing means that connect the extremities of the bands to the clips 18, the upper front springs 11 are connected in superimposed relation to the lower springs 15. This front row of superimposed springs may be connected together in any other suitable manner within the scope of the appended claims and the extremities of the outer ends of the bands 25 may be con nected in any other suitable manner within the spirit and scope of the invention at points intermediate the upper and lower frames, if connected to the front row of springs at all. As shown, these projecting portions which form the spring elements 26 of the bands project beyond the upper frame and also beyond the aforesaid rod or bar 16 and overhang the upper portion only of the structure for the purpose of providing a substantial and yet pliable means above the bar 16 for the ready formation of a pliable overhanging roll at the upper portion of the front of the structure with a minimum amount of upholstering material, thereby obviating the necessity of employing considerable upholstering hair and other material in the formation of a roll of the present character.

The rod or bar 16 may be regarded as a middle border wire at the front of the structure and is particularly designed in order to give the upholsterer support for the lower portion of the front facing of the cushion beneath the pliable roll. This bar or rod 16 also performs the function of staying the front row of springs, preventing buckling of the front row of springs.

While 1' have shown an opening at the front of the upper frame, I may form the upper frame continuous as is formed the lower frame. In the form shown wherein the front of the upper frame is provided with an opening the bands 25 and their yieldable elements 26 between the portions 22 of the upper frame are not restrained by the upper frame when under compres sion. The result is that the upper front edge between the front portions 22 of the upper frame has greater resiliency than the side portions of the structure at the front, although this greater resiliency is comparatively slight.

The bands 25 by virtue of their connection with the front row of springs reinforce the front row of springs without affecting the resiliency or pliability of the structure. The essential feature of the invention, however, resides in the provision of means whereby a pliable roll may be formed at the front upper edge of the struc ture to give it a luxurious effect and to provide a soft pliable upper front edge in contradistinction to the usual stiii edge and the common square facing effect.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A spring construction comprising upper and lower frames, a row of upper and lower superimposed springs between the frames at the front of the structure, clips connected to the upper ends of the lowermost row of front springs and to which clips the upper springs of the front row are connected, a bar unattached to said frames and connected. to the upper convolutions of the lowermost springs by said clips, and other springs between the frames and in the rear of said front row of springs.

2. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, upper and lower springs arranged in superimposed relation between the frames at the front of the structure, clips connecting said upper and lower springs together, a bar connected to the front row of springs along the line of connection between the upper and lower sets of springs by said clips, and other springs between the frames in the rear of the front row of springs.

3. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, rows of springs arranged between the frames, the upper frame being open at its front, a bar unattached to either of said frames and connected to convolutions of the front row of springs between said frames, the ends of said bar being directed rearwardly and contacting with convolutions of the corner springs of the front row and terminating immediately in the rear of the corner springs, and clips connected to said rearwardly directed end portions of said bar and to the convolutions of the springs with which said rearwardly directed ends contact, whereby spreading of the corner springs is prevented and whereby the upper front portion of the structure above said bar is open to permit independent tilting movement of the upper ends of the front row of springs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WATSON B. SMITH.

Witnesses:

JEANNETTE P. "WENGER," Enxns'r I. MGCUEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents.

' Washington, D. C. 

